The Scotland Yard Exchange Series

by Stephanie Queen

  “I’m so sorry, Mr. Lord. I’ll take care of Noodles—”

  “No, I’m sorry, Ms. Rogers. A mere apology is not enough. You will need to move out. Immediately. By the end of tomorrow. I’ll have your eviction papers ready in the morning.” He glared. “I have tenants lined up to rent this place for more money than you pay—and they don’t have pets!” He stomped off down the hall and back into his apartment and slammed the door.

  David looked at Grace. She was white, her mouth open and mute. Tears rolled freely down her cheeks and Noodles whimpered, sensing her distress and licking her face. He wanted to embrace her, but something held him back. He’d like to think it was good sense, or at least self-preservation. But he was afraid it was pure fear.

  If he did anything right now, he would be lost to her because he wouldn’t be able to prevent himself from jumping in with both feet and vowing to take care of her for the rest of his life.

  The problem with that, of course, was that his life was bound to be far shorter than hers. Then where would she be?

  “I’m sorry, Grace,” he managed to say while keeping his distance. Only his hand remained on the small of her back because he couldn’t seem to move it. He couldn’t let himself pull her into a hug, but he couldn’t bring himself to step away and remove his hand from that highly magnetic spot.

  He was saved from pondering further what to say or do when the door crashed open and Dan O’Keefe walked in. His erstwhile lifesaver in action.

  “What the hell happened, Sherlock?”

  Chapter 16

  “NOODLES chased an intruder off. Let’s go upstairs and I’ll fill you in.” David was glad to be back in detective mode where he belonged and felt at home. He’d worry about that being his singular identity later. Someday. When he could afford to take another look in a mirror without keeling over from horror.

  “Outdone by a dog, eh?”

  David chose not to respond to that comment. They all walked up the stairs to Grace’s apartment. He sat with Grace on the couch. Dan walked the three steps to the other side of the room and took a seat in the small chair. Grace clenched Noodles to her chest, barely letting the small pooch room to breathe. David couldn’t stop himself from thinking the obvious—what a way to go. If it weren’t for her sniffles and bowed head, he would have plunged into the details of the unfolding investigation right away.

  He put his arm around her, still wary about getting too close, but not heartless enough to ignore her pain.

  “Don’t worry, Grace. We’ll make sure you and Noodles have a place to stay first thing in the morning,” he said.

  “Why? What’s going on? And by the way, in case you haven’t noticed, it pretty much is first thing in the morning.” Dan glanced out the window and pointed at the emerging sunlight.

  “My landlord evicted me because Noodles woke everyone—but she was scaring the intruder away—weren’t you, Noodles?” she said. Then she looked up with her teary eyes.

  “Strictly speaking, I’m not supposed to have a Noodles in this apartment, so it’s better that we move. We’ll be okay. It’s just that I’ve lived here for the last ten years. Since I graduated college.” She turned to David. His heart melted completely and whatever had been holding him back gave way.

  “I’ll arrange a mover to put your things in storage. You can pack a bag of essentials for you and Noodles for now and we’ll book into the Parker House Hotel. I know the manager there and he won’t mind Noodles at all. We’ll get the two-bedroom ‘Mayor Curley’ suite if it’s available. I’ll be staying with you until we lock up everyone involved in this case.” He didn’t give her a chance to say yes or no. Then he looked at Dan, who merely nodded his approval.

  “Sounds like a good plan for the duration. I’m sorry to say, Grace, you’re a target and you will need the kind of protection David can provide.” Dan leaned forward in the chair, bracing his forearms on his knees. “As for the case, any idea who intruder number two is—the mysterious man in the shower? We haven’t had any luck with Arturo Diego giving us info. He’s insisting on silence until he talks to his attorney, who will of course tell him to keep quiet.” Dan frowned.

  “By the way, I would get skewered by my wife if I didn’t remind you that tonight we’ve planned the so-called get-together to celebrate your exoneration. They’re supposed to make it official this morning sometime—right?”

  David nodded but didn’t add his thought that a celebration might be jumping the gun. He didn’t know if he’d get a clean exoneration, but he didn’t mind—as long as the ordeal was over and he could put it all behind him.

  “Of course you are invited, Grace,” Dan added.

  “I would be delighted! That instantly puts me in a better mood. I’m sure I can finish packing up my things here quickly. But Noodles…”

  “Don’t worry. You can bring Noodles along to the celebration,” Dan said in a softer voice, one that David knew would make Esther proud.

  “Back to the case at hand—have you already run down all the suspects on Oscar’s list? Do we know their whereabouts?” David asked, knowing the answer, but not one to put the cart before the horse.

  “Mmhm. Nadda. They’re all clean.”

  “Casting our net a bit wider then, there were a few players not on the list who know something about all of this,” David said. He smiled at Grace. He didn’t want to name the archeologist’s name in front of her, but Dan would catch his meaning.

  David thought about the other people they knew were involved and settled on one in particular. The Inspector from Peru. But before he could share his hunch with his sidekick, his cell phone rang again. He pulled it from his pocket with the resignation of necessity and held it in front of Grace. She read the number for him and he was surprised to learn it was his barrister’s line from the UK flashing at him. He looked up at Dan, who was shaking his head, frowning as he looked between Grace and him.

  “Well, this is it—my verdict is in. I’d forgotten the UK is ahead of us,” David said as he put the phone to his ear.

  “Only ahead of us on the sun dial,” Dan said with a smirk.

  “Hello, Roland. Give me the news.” David mentally held his breath. He realized in that fraction of a second that he didn’t know what to expect. All the moralizing, support of his friends and John Q Public aside, he knew about politics too. His spine straightened to a rigid posture from the relaxed comfort of the cushions and Grace’s warm body. He felt the separation from her magnetic field more than anything and gave her a quick look. She took his hand before he could move away any further from her.

  “Good—then you haven’t heard.” Roland’s voice vibrated with purpose. “I’m glad to be the one to tell you.”

  “Out with it. Either way, you can be sure I’ll take it like a man—stiff upper lip and all that,” David said in a quiet enough voice so that no one could mistake his words for sarcasm. He heard Roland take a deep breath on the other end.

  “It’s a bit of a mixed bag. Naturally they found no cause to press criminal charges because after all, the killing was in self-defense. But I’m afraid they’ve found against you on the charges that you engaged in inappropriate activities as Chief Superintendent of the Flying Squad. The upshot is that your assignment as director of the exchange program with the Boston Police Department hangs in the balance,” Roland said.

  David paused to let the news have its way with him. He waited for the despair and felt none, at least no more than he’d already had blanketing him for the past two years since his wife died. Neither was there any relief. “Who the bloody hell decides that and on what basis?”

  “Since Internal Investigations has finally finished their job, it’s back in the commissioner’s hands. Word is they’ll watch and see how you do with your case—give you a month maybe—to see that you stay in line.” Roland stopped talking.

  David grunted. More pressure. Funny, he didn’t feel it. In fact, he had a hard time feeling anything at all. Until he looked up at the faces staring
back at him. He signed off and placed the phone on the coffee table in front of him.

  On their behalf he felt a deep and abiding disappointment and a need to protect. After all, he was still the same man who’d felt the need to protect all of the UK. And he did so admirably. All except his wife.

  That was when the hammer blow hit him. He kept his face steady, if solemn, but his stomach roiled. He was not invincible after all; even he had his limits to what level of emotions he could accept. Apparently no amount of despair could get to him; no amount of praise or castigation from the press or the powers that be made any effect. But his own guilt could very well do him in, courtesy of the ghost of his dead wife—the one he had to protect at all costs and the one he had not.

  Avenging her murder was no substitute. Starting fresh at this moment seemed impossible. He didn’t change his expression for his friends, didn’t move at all.

  “Well?” Dan said. Grace squeezed his hand. Their kindness would kill him, he thought, if his own guilt did not.

  “They’re not going to toss me in jail,” he said, leading with the good news for Grace’s benefit. Dan knew the implication of his statement, of course. He looked David in the eye with the same pain he felt and bowed his head, because neither of them could stand the intensity of the gutting made worse by the fact that it was shared.

  “I never realized there was a question that you’d be jailed,” Grace said. She was trying to look him in the eye, so he turned and faced her. He was a brave man, and this proved it like nothing else.

  “There never really was, so it is a small consolation after all. I have been reprimanded by the prestigious Scotland Yard for disregarding their rules and their orders. Now my future as Director of the Scotland Yard Exchange Program with the BPD hinges on how I well I behave while disposing of this case.” He couldn’t help his ironic smile. He squeezed her hand back as it tightened.

  “Then you have nothing to worry about, I’m sure. You’re doing a damn good job. Besides, this is your home now—you have Mabel and Dan.” She took a breath. “And you have me,” she said without as much oomph.

  “I’m glad I have you,” he said to rescue her. Then because he saw the delight on her face and couldn’t stand being a complete cad. One who would toy with her feelings, he had to temper himself. “I have the best damn decorator in town for my new home.” He didn’t add that he had the best damn body to guard this side of the Atlantic.

  She ripped her hand from his and stood, grasping Noodles closer than ever to her beautiful breasts. “I meant as…as a helper on your investigation…” she said, then sighed and sat back down with a sad look.

  Rescuing damsels in distress was turning out not to be his strong suit. He never would have guessed this from his promising beginnings. Dan snorted across from him and he turned to his friend.

  “You’ve been a Boston Brahmin forever,” Dan said. “They’d never find anyone better for the job. It’s about time you took back your place here and embraced your role.”

  “Most important of all—you have family here,” Grace said. He met her eyes and saw the unmistakable glisten lighting them. “Excuse me,” she said before she stood and ran to the bathroom carrying her puppy. It was not lost on David that Noodles was just about the only family she had, unless you counted the collection of friends she’d adopted along the way. He always thought she had counted them, but maybe it wasn’t the same.

  “The stress must be getting to her—can’t blame her. She’s been a trooper, considering her friend Lester was murdered and she discovered his dead body and is now being stalked. Maybe you should decide if you’re going to romance her or leave her the hell alone, because one thing is for certain—there is no halfway for you two. That much is perfectly clear even for an imbecile like me.” Dan blew out a breath. “Sorry. It had to be said.”

  “Time to get out of here,” David said.

  “Look, if you want I can assign a detail for Grace. You don’t have to personally look out for her—”

  “Of course I have to personally look out for her. Because it is personal,” he said. “In the meantime, I have an idea about that celebratory dinner you have planned. We invite everyone involved, and have it at the Newbury Street restaurant where the original murder attempt took place. You’ve had it under surveillance, right?” David leaned forward, keeping his voice low.

  “Yes. I see where you’re headed,” Dan said.

  “We can make sure Diego knows about it, make sure he thinks it’s a replay of the previously interrupted rehearsal party—with the party gifts present as well as the guests—including Grace,” David added.

  “We can make sure he has a chance to tell his attorney and whoever else he wants to know and keep our eyes and ears on him.” Dan grinned.

  David could see the spark of excitement in the man’s eyes. He’d always loved a good sting operation.

  “Can you arrange undercover waiters and make sure the place is watched closely to prevent any bombs being planted?”

  “Consider it done.”

  “Make sure it all looks legit. We don’t want the bad guys to know it’s a setup, after all,” David teased sitting back into the cushions again. He felt good having a plan and not waiting around like sitting ducks.

  “No kidding? And here I was thinking I’d recycle that police party banner your aunt has,” Dan said. “But seriously, a replay of the rehearsal party is the perfect cover. Are you sure you want to put Grace in the line of fire?”

  “We won’t be—we’ll get a police woman to dress up in costume.”

  “Whatever you say. But I don’t think she’s going to go along with that—and we will need her cooperation. We can’t hold her prisoner,” Dan pointed out with a heavy dose of skepticism in his voice.

  He was right, but David couldn’t contemplate that right now. “We’ll cover the loft and Grace’s old apartment because they’re just as likely to go after the artifacts as they are their witness, and we’re not sure where they’ll be looking for the vase now. We’ll make them believe that we believe Diego is the killer and not involved with anyone else,” he said. “And one more thing—we should let I.C.E. know about it. That’s an official call from you.”

  “Okay. Should we let Oscar know about it? That’s an unofficial call from you—unless you think it’s too risky with your neck on the line at the Yard,” Dan said.

  “I’ll call him. Oscar can keep Grace under wraps. I’ll be fine unless the commissioner has tapped my cell phone,” he said, half kidding.

  “I’ll have someone check it for you—just to be sure,” Dan said, and David saw that he wasn’t kidding at all. “I don’t want any of the women to know about the sting. I wish we could leave them out of it completely,” Dan finished.

  “That’s fine for you to say. You can claim a right to make the decision for Esther because she’s your wife and you can insist that she trust your expert judgment. But I have to tell Grace, and she’ll insist it’s her life and her decision and that I have no right to make the decision for her. No right to insist that she trust me.” David felt the sting of that reality in his gut. “On top of that, even though I don’t want her involved in the sting operation, I don’t want her out of my sight either.”

  Dan grunted his understanding and shot David a knowing look.

  “I admit it, it’s still personal with Grace,” David said.

  Grace grabbed another tissue and promised herself this would be the last of the tears she’d have to wipe away. Looking at her reflection, she spoke out loud.

  “You look ridiculous with eye makeup streaked all over your face and needless crying.” She sniffed one more time, loudly, dabbed at her nose and tossed the tissue in the crystal-clear wastebasket.

  “No more. You have your health and Noodles.” She looked at her puppy, who sat on the toilet with her fluffy tail wagging and not a worry in the world. “And we have our family too, don’t we, Noodles? Even if David isn’t one of us. We have Pixie and we have Oscar back.”
She nuzzled Noodles behind the ear and brightened at the last thought. Oscar had left her with an emergency number to call and the promise to watch over her like a guardian angel. How many people had that?

  She straightened, took one more look in the mirror and smiled a genuine smile even if the joy wasn’t soul deep. Her heart did a little flutter at the thought of facing David again, for the pleasure and excitement, but also for the heartache of the eventual loss.

  She opened the door and negative thoughts disappeared when she heard David’s words.

  It was personal. That was something to go on, something to start with. Certainly more than she had a week ago—before she’d met him.

  She walked into her tiny living room and both men stood. That in itself was enough to brighten her smile. She must be a real throwback, but she loved the old-style manners of treating a woman as different—the fairer sex. She felt honored rather than offended. She’d always reveled in her femininity.

  “I’m ready to go as soon as I pack a few things.” She held Noodles with one arm and opened her closet door with the other.

  “I’ll arrange for movers to come in and pack things up before noon, and put it all in storage until you find another place. With all your contacts in this town, you’ll find something fabulous in no time, Grace.” David slipped the ever-present phone from his pocket.

  “I know people in the moving business too. I’ll call them, David. No need for you to go to the trouble.” She laid the luggage open on the couch where they’d been sitting and then began removing things from her closet and stuffing them in. Suddenly she wanted to hurry, to get out of this place. She watched David’s reaction.

  “Is there anything I can do to help?” He managed to infuse the words with such earnestness that she realized her mistake.

  “You’re already doing so much—arranging the hotel and playing my bodyguard. Don’t think I’m not aware and don’t appreciate it. I’d be even more of a nervous wreck than I am now if it weren’t for you.” She stopped. He stood only two feet from her, and Dan was at the window, peering outside.